Sokka could hardly belive his luck, fate had sent him a friend to help him, just when he needed it most! He was so pleased to see Zuko that he nearly burst into tears.
Zuko had left his job. He was going to be a student... but then he stopped talking, and looked closely at Sokka. What on earth was the matter with him?
"How ill you appear! So thin and pale!" observed Zuko.
Frightful visions of the creature swirled around Sokka's brain. But he didn't dare tell Zuko what he had been doing. He asked Zuko to wait, then rushed to his study.
Thank goodness, the room was empty.
Sokka sighed with relief, then started to laugh, strangely, wildly, madly. He imagined that the creature was with him in the room, ready to attack him! Zuko was shocked at his behavior!
"How ill you are!" observed Zuko.
"Oh, save me! Save me!" laughed Sokka.
He seemed to feel the monster's huge hands closing around his throat, and fell to the floor, unconscious.
Sokka was ill, very ill. He was slumped in bed, almost lifeless. Zuko looked after him, but couldnot understand. What had caused Sokka's madness?
Sokka's troubled mind was haunted by visions of his creature. Zuko was alarmed by his shouts and screams.
Slowly and painfully, Sokka got better. He could think, speak, and read again. Zuko gave him a letter that had just arrived. It was from Suki.
Sokka would do as Suki said: go home and spend time with his family. Before he left, the professors congratulated him on his work. But, deep inside, he was still full of fear.
Sokka had to wait untill spring to cross the mountains into Gaoling. To pass the time, he read poetry. Compared with science, it was very soothing!